wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
nope not normal everywhere. in Cali where im at it is, but other states just do a meter pan outside and then main service panel is inside....
Odd that never happens here in cali
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Need a meter socket and 200 Amp Panel Recommendations
- Thread starter Junkman
- Start date
nope not normal everywhere. in Cali where im at it is, but other states just do a meter pan outside and then main service panel is inside....
Odd that never happens here in cali
mngundog
Well-known member
I'd guess the majority of systems today are the Ring/Blink type ones sold for $75-300 which seem to do an adequate job for most people at an inexpensive cost provided their is power to your modem, power to wired camera's. If a burglar's/vandals pull the lever, won't they shut off 90% of security systems in a matter of minutes? As for power failures monitoring, if I have a cabin, remote property or a second home 70 miles away, what does one do when they get an alarm for the power going out? Odds here is it's a weather or utility event when that happens. I know my camera's wired to power have zero battery back-up, so I'd have to purchase an entire new system.yes grandfathered if he gets the new service installed,
thats why legit intrusion alarms have battery backups and power failure monitoring...
Am I wrong with this thinking?
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
I'd guess the majority of systems today are the Ring/Blink type ones sold for $75-300 which seem to do an adequate job for most people at an inexpensive cost provided their is power to your modem, power to wired camera's. If a burglar's/vandals pull the lever, won't they shut off 90% of security systems in a matter of minutes? As for power failures monitoring, if I have a cabin, remote property or a second home 70 miles away, what does one do when they get an alarm for the power going out? Odds here is it's a weather or utility event when that happens. I know my camera's wired to power have zero battery back-up, so I'd have to purchase an entire new system.
Am I wrong with this thinking?
I have simplisafe and the base has battery backup and cell backup should wifi fail.... when the power fails, I get an alert on my app and text message. however since its plugged into a UPS, i never get an alert from the base and instead get alerts from my UPS
i do have wifi/cord powered cameras tied to burg so those wont operate during outage but i also have POE cams powered by UPS powered POE switch, so i still have coverage during an outage.... basically multiple layers to home security for multiple possible issues...
Probably a good way to get shot nowadays.And yes, as kids we would sneak around and shut people's power off, and then get chased by the cops, and get in trouble...
Some people did start putting a lock on the box so you couldn't open it. People get way more bent nowadays about this sort of thing so I don't see it happening as much as when I was a kid.
JohnX14
Well-known member
All of the 320/400 amp meter sockets I've seen are lever bypass. The poco (national grid) requires byopass levers on all meters other than residential, even 100 amp. As example, I recently installed a small service to only power an irrigation well at a condo complex. They require a bypass meter. They confirmed with me verbally that I'd be using a bypass meter. I slipped in a regular meter socket. I couldn't find a bypass meter in stock at my 3 suppliers, and let's face it, it's a well pump. It's not powering a critical care unit. This was a stande-alone pedestal with a meter and small 6 circuit loadcenter. A year earlier I did one for a well in which the meter was ganged with the dwelling, so it had a 2 gang meter main, with one meter for the well. No way was I finding a 2 gang, 200 amp meter main with bypass levers. Not now, not then, not during covid, not pre-covid.Yes of course.
A bypass is in no way no how a means of disconnect.
Pull the lid off , flip up the lever to bypass and pull the meter. The service will stay on and not be metered.
The way the mechanism works is basically a clamp on the meter jaws. With the lever up a slide bar raises into place to make the connection and the clamping part on the jaws release.
I don't know if all PoCos 320 cans have a bypass but ours do, and are the only ones allowed to have it.
Self contained 200A and 100A are required to be the standard meter base and no bypass. Reason being is the PoCo here uses a ring type meter base and there's no way to use a lever bypass with it.
Great if they let it slide.All of the 320/400 amp meter sockets I've seen are lever bypass. The poco (national grid) requires byopass levers on all meters other than residential, even 100 amp. As example, I recently installed a small service to only power an irrigation well at a condo complex. They require a bypass meter. They confirmed with me verbally that I'd be using a bypass meter. I slipped in a regular meter socket. I couldn't find a bypass meter in stock at my 3 suppliers, and let's face it, it's a well pump. It's not powering a critical care unit. This was a stande-alone pedestal with a meter and small 6 circuit loadcenter. A year earlier I did one for a well in which the meter was ganged with the dwelling, so it had a 2 gang meter main, with one meter for the well. No way was I finding a 2 gang, 200 amp meter main with bypass levers. Not now, not then, not during covid, not pre-covid.
We had a shortage of meter sockets a couple years ago. The stance of MidAmerica was no substitutions. We wait until the right socket comes, even when looking at 1 year lead times.
A few years ago I looked at wiring a bin and dryer. Was already getting into fall and I told the guy I wouldn't be able to complete it until next year. Ordered the big parts right away.Great if they let it slide.
We had a shortage of meter sockets a couple years ago. The stance of MidAmerica was no substitutions. We wait until the right socket comes, even when looking at 1 year lead times.
Single phase ct socket took 14 months to show up. Called all over the place, nobody had one. We ran a wire across the ground so the guy could use the bin fans and auger but he couldn't use his new dryer for 2 seasons.
Still call BR "Zinsco II".Eaton BR is junk. Eaton CH is way better